Declan Rice proved pivotal in England’s penalty shootout win over Switzerland – despite not taking a spot-kick in the quarter-final clash.
That’s the view of Three Lions star Luke Shaw, who has commented on the crucial role the Arsenal midfielder played from the halfway line.
Rice was one of England’s better performers against Switzerland, where he played the entire match, before watching diligently from the centre-circle as his side ran out 5-3 winners in the shootout.
And while he wasn’t selected by boss Gareth Southgate to be one of England’s five takers, Shaw has insisted his role was just as important.
The Manchester United left-back, who came off the bench for his first appearance of the tournament, disclosed: “Dec was our speaker.
“[He] was keeping everyone calm, calming everyone down, telling everyone to do their breathing techniques and manifest.
“It was needed.”
His words clearly did the trick, as Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney and Trent Alexander-Arnold all expertly dispatched from 12 yards.
But Rice wasn’t the only non-taker to help contribute in the shootout, with Shaw revealing that Kyle Walker offered advice to goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
The Manchester City man is claimed to have told the Everton shot-stopper to dive to his left for Citizens teammate Manuel Akanji’s effort – which he did.
